How to choose an electrician

Electrical work is hard to judge once it is finished: most of it ends up behind walls and under floors. That makes the checks you do before hiring someone more important than for most trades. These are the ones that matter.

1. Check their registration yourself

In England and Wales, notifiable electrical work in homes must meet Part P of the Building Regulations. Electricians registered with a government-approved competent person scheme, such as NICEIC, can self-certify that work and notify building control for you.

Do not rely on a logo on a website or van. Each scheme has a public online register: search for the business name and check that the registration is current and covers the type of work you need.

2. Ask for proof of insurance

A professional contractor should have public liability insurance, and employers' liability insurance if they employ staff. Ask to see the current certificate and check the business name and expiry date match.

3. Get a written quote that says what is included

A good quote is specific. It should tell you:

• what work is included, and what is not
• who is responsible for making good, such as filling and decorating after cable runs
• how changes or unexpected problems will be handled and priced
• which certificate you will receive at the end

If a quote is a single line with a price, ask for more detail before you agree to anything.

4. Look for genuine, recent reviews

Reviews on independent platforms, from customers who had similar work done, are more useful than testimonials on a company's own website. Look at how the business responds when something goes wrong, not just at the star rating.

5. Expect the right paperwork

Electrical work is tested before it is handed over, and the results are recorded on a certificate:

• an Electrical Installation Certificate for new circuits, rewires and larger installations
• a Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate for smaller alterations and additions
• an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) when an existing installation is inspected

For notifiable work in a home, you should also receive confirmation that it has been notified to building control. Keep these documents: buyers, insurers and letting agents often ask for them.

Warning signs

Be cautious if someone will not give a written quote, cannot show insurance or registration, pressures you to decide on the spot, or tells you that certificates are unnecessary.

Talking to us

If you would like a quote, send us the details or call. We will ask the questions we need to quote properly, and you are welcome to check our registration and ask for our insurance certificate before you decide.